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GM to Increase Production

As a sign that things are slowly returning to normal in the auto industry, GM announced that some of its models are selling better than expected.  As a result, production on those vehicles may be increased.

The Chevrolet Camaro, brought back after a seven-year absence, is one of the more popular cars at the moment.

The other vehicles that have proven to be more successful than expected are the Chevrolet Equinox, Buick LaCrosse and the Cadillac SRX.

With the Equinox, adding a third production shift would come as good news for the Canadian economy, as the car is assembled in Ontario.

Following months of job losses and plant closures, the news is breathing new life into the industry.

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North Americans Will Pay for Diesel Motors

The CEO of Audi, Rupert Stadler, believes that North Americans are willing to buy diesel vehicles. However, the price won’t be cheap and  the waiting game is involved.

Stadler shared his opinion at the Frankfurt Auto Show when he was asked about the relevance of diesel engines.  According to the CEO, manufacturers will first have to invest considerable sums of money to produce new, economical and clean engines.  Inevitably, that bill will get passed onto consumers.

Johan de Nysschen, the president of Audi in the United States, believes that his company could sell up to 25% of its vehicles with a diesel engine.  He added that 35% of the Audi Q7s sold last year had diesel engines.

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Bugatti Revisits Its Past

The luxury auto maker was directly inspired by the Type 57 Atlantic, which appeared in 1934.

The Galibier 16C prototype would become the most expensive Bugatti model, if it were to be put into production, an important detail, keeping in mind that the Bugatti Veyron sells for over 1.5 million USD.

If Bugatti gives the green light, the Galibier 16C could make its entry into the market in 2013, and may even replace the two-door Veyron.

The Galibier 16C, made of carbon fibre and aluminum, was recently presented during a private reception at the company’s headquarters. 

Under the bonnet, the Galibier is equipped with an eight-litre W16, the same engine found in the Veyron. This monster cranks out an astronomical 800 horsepower, which is distributed to all four wheels, thanks to an eight-speed automatic transmission. 

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The Possible Return of the Volkswagen Phaeton

The CEO of VW in North America, Stefan Jacoby, confirmed at the Frankfurt Motor Show that his company could be importing a new version of the Phaeton sedan.

Launched in 2003, the Phaeton never made quite an impact and was taken off the market in 2007.

If the model makes a comeback, it would probably come as the sedan equipped with a diesel engine. Jacoby commented that since the economic crisis is affecting the car industry, diesel motors have an edge, and added that VW has sold more Jetta TDIs that the company could supply.

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BMW Gets Set for 4 Cylinders

The CEO of BMW North America, Jim O’Donnell, revealed today at the Frankfurt Auto Show that his company will be launching novel four-cylinder engines to meet new environmental standards.

These engines, which will be more economical than the current 6-cylinder, will be equipped with two turbos.  According to O’Donnell, the German brand will be able to offer the engines by 2015.

O’Donnell also announced that the next 3 Series, coming out in the spring of 2012, will feature a four-cylinder engine.  European versions of the 3 Series are rolling out now with either 4-cylinder or diesel engines.

BMW also is considering adding four-cylinder gasoline engines to its X1 and X3 crossovers and 1 Series models in the United States.

 

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Musique

Lady Gaga and Kanye West Announce Canadian Shows

After revealing a few cities for their upcoming Fame Kills tour, Lady Gaga and Kanye West have revealed more details about the tour, which kicks off on November 10 in Phoenix.

The shows will last just through the end of January 2010, but will stop several times in Canada.

Here are the cities and dates that have been revealed:

11/10 – Phoenix, AZ @ US Airways Center
11/11 – San Diego, CA @ Viejas Arena
11/13 – Las Vegas, NV @ Mandalay Bay Events Center
11/15 – Anaheim, CA @ Honda Center
11/16 – Los Angeles, CA @ Staples Center
11/18 – Sacramento, CA @ ARCO Arena
11/19 – San Jose, CA @ HP Pavilion
11/24 – Vancouver, BC @ General Motors Place
11/26 – Calgary, AB @ Pengrowth Saddledome
11/28 – Edmonton, AB @ Rexall Place
11/29 – Saskatoon, SK @ Credit Union Centre

12/2 – Denver, CO @ Pepsi Center
12/4 – St. Louis, MO @ Scottrade Center
12/ 9 – Miami, FL @ American Airlines Arena
12/11 – Atlanta, GA @ Philips Arena
12/12 – Greensboro, NC @ Greensboro Coliseum Complex
12/13 – Norfolk, VA @ Scope
12/16 – Worcester, MA @ DCU Center
12/18 – Philadelphia, PA @ Wachovia Center
12/19 – Baltimore, MD @ 1st Mariner Arena
12/20 – Buffalo, NY @ HSBC Arena
12/22 – East Rutherford, NJ @ IZOD Center
12/26 – Hartford, CT @ XL Center
12/30 – Washington, DC @ Verizon Center
1/3 – Uniondale, NY @ Nassau Coliseum
1/6 – Toronto, ON @ Air Canada Centre
1/8 – Kanata, ON@ Scotiabank Place
1/11 – Montreal, QC @ Bell Centre

1/14 – Auburn Hills, MI @ Palace of Auburn Hills
1/16 – Chicago, IL @ United Center
1/19 – New Orleans, LA @ New Orleans Arena
1/21 – San Antonio, TX @ AT&T Center
1/22 – Houston, TX @ Toyota Center
1/24 – Dallas, TX @ American Airlines Center

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Potins

Whitney Houston Was Saved by Her Mom

During an exclusive interview with Oprah Winfrey, which was Houston’s first in seven years, the American singer revealed that her mother was the one who led her to recovery from drug addiction.

Houston, 46, has recently made her big comeback with the new disc I Look To You.

In the two-part interview, which aired yesterday and will follow up today, the singer explains how her mother, Cissy Houston, insisted that she take her life back into her own hands with the help of a court injunction.

"She said, ‘I’m not losing you to the world. I’m not losing you to Satan… I want my daughter back’," recalled Whitney. 

The star admitted to Oprah that she used to smoke marijuana laced with crack.

Whitney Houston is experiencing a remarkable return to the top, with her new album that has gone directly to number one on North American charts since its August 31 release.

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Potins

Kathryn Joosten Diagnosed with Cancer

For the second time, the 69-year-old American actress has been diagnosed with lung cancer.

Joosten, who plays Mrs. McCluskey in the popular drama, confirmed the terrible news to People magazine. The star was devastated to receive her doctors’ diagnosis, but says she’s doing fine despite the news.

The actress learned about her recurring cancer following a routine visit last month.

In 2001, Joosten received her first diagnosis of lung cancer. From that day on, she quit smoking.

Kathryn Joosten had a late entrance into show business. In 1995, at the age of 42, she began her Hollywood career doing mostly television.

 

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Potins

President Obama Not Happy with Kanye

Obama qualified West as a "jackass," following his shrewd remarks at the MTV Video Music Awards in New York. At least, that’s what Terry Moran from ABC’s Nightline posted on his Twitter profile, which is viewed by over 3 million Internet users.

The president didn’t like how West came on stage, taking the microphone away from Taylor Swift. The 19-year-old was in the middle of giving her acceptance speech after being awarded for Best Female Video, when West interrupted her to say that Beyonce rightfully deserved the honour.

West was booed by the audience, and has since been trying to redeem himself with apologies for his rude gesture.

 

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New 2- and 3-Cylinder Engines at Ford

The American brand is thinking small and economical for its future, and has announced that 2- and 3-cylinder cars are destined for 2010. 

Vice-president of powertrain engineering, Barb Samardzich, revealed that the new engine will hold one litre of fuel or less.

Meanwhile, Ford confirms that it will market a 1.6-litre four-cylinder turbo engine called EcoBoost with direct injection. The engine will be found in the next generation of the Ford C-Max. In North America, the seven-passenger Grand C-Max is already scheduled to enter the market.

The EcoBoost engines will be integrated into several models in the coming months. A 2.0-litre I-4 will replace the current 3.0-litre V6 engines.

According to the American auto maker, 1.3 million vehicles carrying the EcoBoost motor will be produced yearly until 2013, two-thirds of them being four-cylinders.